Hampden County, Massachusetts

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Hampden County is a non-governmental county located in the Pioneer Valley of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, Hampden County's population was 465,825. Its traditional county seat is Springfield,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> the Connecticut River Valley's largest city, and economic and cultural capital; with an estimated population of 154,758, approximately one-third of Hampden County residents live in Springfield. Template:Coord

History

Springfield had been Hampshire County's traditional shire town since its founding in 1636, then in 1794 Northampton was made Hampshire County's shire town.<ref name=HCRD>Hampden County Incorporated in 1812. Posted October 2, 2018, by Hampden County Registry of Deeds. Accessed August 5, 2023.</ref> Springfield grew at a pace far quicker than Northampton, so was granted shire town-status over its own southerly jurisdiction.<ref name=HCRD /> The southern division of Hampshire County was separated as Hampden County on August 1, 1812, by a prior act of the Massachusetts General Court on February 25, 1812, with Springfield named as the shire town.<ref>An Act for dividing the county of Hampshire, and erecting and forming the southerly part thereof into a separate county, by the name of Hampden. Passed February 25, 1812, Effective from and after August 1, 1812. Chapter CXXXVII. Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed at the Several Sessions of the General Court Holden in Boston. Beginning May 31, 1809, and Ending on February 29, 1812. Vol. V. Publisher: Adams, Rhoades & Co., Boston, 1812. Accessed April 7, 2024.</ref><ref>01 AUG 1812 HAMPDEN created from HAMPSHIRE. (Mass. Acts 1812, ch. 137/p. 291) HAMPDEN. Massachusetts : Individual County Chronologies. Massachusetts Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library, 2009. Accessed April 7, 2024.</ref> The agreement of settlement (regarding assets, liabilities, income and expenses) made between Hampden and Hampshire counties in November 1812 can be found in the Court of Sessions Record Book 1, pages 5–6 of the Hampden County Commissioners' Archives, housed in the Registry of Deeds.<ref name=HCRD /> Hampden County was named for parliamentarian John Hampden,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and is the youngest county by establishment date in the state.

To the north of Hampden County is modern-day Hampshire County; to the west is Berkshire County; to the east is Worcester County; to the south are Litchfield County, Hartford County, and Tolland County in Connecticut. Hampden County is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the most urban county in Western Massachusetts. The Knowledge Corridor surrounding Springfield-Hartford is New England's second most populous urban area (after Greater Boston) with 1.9 million people.

Law and government

As with most Massachusetts counties, Hampden County exists today only as a historical geographic region, and has no county government. All former county functions were assumed by state agencies in 1998. The sheriff and some other regional officials with specific duties are still elected locally to perform duties within the county borders, but there is no county council, county commission or other county governing body. Communities are now granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services. Hampden County and Hampshire County together are part of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

Government and politics

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Voter registration and party enrollment as of February 2024<ref name="Voters">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Party color cell Unenrolled 219,200 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Democratic 91,495 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Republican 35,661 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Libertarian 1,416 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Other parties 2,971 Template:Percentage
Total 350,743 Template:Percentage

Geography

Template:Hampden County overlay map According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Towns

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Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

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City neighborhoods

The following are neighborhoods located in Springfield or West Springfield. Template:Div col

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The following are neighborhoods located in Chicopee. Template:Div col

  • Aldenville
  • Burnett Road
  • Chicopee Center (Cabotville)
  • Chicopee Falls
  • Fairview
  • Smith Highlands
  • Westover
  • Willimansett

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The following are neighborhoods located in Holyoke. Template:Div col

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National Parks

State parks

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Demographics

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2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 463,490 people, 179,927 households, and 115,961 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 192,175 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% white, 9.0% black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 9.2% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 20.9% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> The largest ancestry groups were:<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 179,927 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 38.6 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,724 and the median income for a family was $61,061. Males had a median income of $50,207 versus $37,765 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,718. About 13.2% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Hampden County MA population density.png
Population density of Hampden County by census block (2020)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

Template:See also The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank Town Per capita
income 		Median
household
income 		Median
family
income 		Population Number of
households
1 Longmeadow Town $50,203 $100,092 $111,803 15,772 5,605
2 Wilbraham Town $39,372 $88,839 $107,871 14,145 5,393
3 Hampden Town $38,396 $79,773 $103,173 5,134 1,960
4 Montgomery Town $36,575 $78,125 $90,313 742 291
5 Tolland Town $36,567 $67,083 $75,625 434 164
6 Blandford Town $36,412 $78,875 $82,656 1,174 462
Massachusetts State $35,051 $65,981 $83,371 6,512,227 2,522,409
7 East Longmeadow Town $34,417 $76,517 $89,570 15,555 5,660
8 Southwick Town $33,753 $74,721 $86,915 9,425 3,657
9 Wales Town $32,129 $60,938 $70,536 1,914 773
10 Granville Town $32,050 $71,667 $85,625 1,444 554
11 Brimfield Town $31,671 $78,380 $86,695 3,582 1,385
12 Monson Town $31,274 $70,485 $86,333 8,531 3,318
Monson Center CDP $29,938 $50,242 $51,691 1,880 846
13 Agawam City $29,914 $65,339 $76,258 28,408 11,506
14 Holland Town $29,835 $69,565 $79,779 2,595 998
15 West Springfield City $27,946 $54,251 $63,954 28,320 11,571
United States Country $27,915 $52,762 $64,293 306,603,772 114,761,359
16 Palmer City $27,694 $50,864 $58,144 12,161 5,006
17 Ludlow Town $27,644 $60,694 $73,048 21,131 7,876
18 Chester Town $27,630 $56,711 $69,063 1,320 528
19 Westfield City $26,605 $53,772 $72,210 41,025 15,207
20 Russell Town $25,600 $60,398 $72,759 1,846 681
Hampden County County $25,363 $48,866 $61,800 462,752 177,954
21 Chicopee City $23,703 $45,763 $58,118 55,205 23,136
22 Holyoke City $20,370 $33,915 $42,033 39,897 16,012
23 Springfield City $18,483 $35,603 $41,454 152,992 56,211

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Education

Colleges and universities

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Public school districts

Other institutions

Although no county government exists in Hampden County, a number of private associations, mainly representing trades remain identified with Hampden County. For example the Hampden Agricultural Society opened Hampden Park in Springfield in 1853. To maintain current training among municipal inspectors, in 2005 the nongovernmental Hampden County Plumbing & Gas Inspectors Association was formed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Hampden County Bar Association provides support and resources to the legal community and those seeking such representation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In part a legacy of the Eastern States Exposition, the Hampden County Improvement League, and Hampden County Beekeepers Association, both provide agricultural education and outreach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Hampden County Radio Association, an affiliate of the ARRL, offers training in amateur radio and related technology.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Major highways

File:Hampden County Bridge and tower, Springfield, Mass (78031).jpg
Hampden County Memorial Bridge over the Connecticut, connecting Springfield/West Springfield, c. 1945

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Public transportation

Hampden County is served by both bus and rail service, with intermodal connections at Springfield Union Station, and Holyoke station via the Holyoke Transportation Center. Additionally the region is served by the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, and Westover Metropolitan Airport. A bike share program, ValleyBike, connects Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke and West Springfield to points north in Hampshire County.

Bus

Rail

See also

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References

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Further reading

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